The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-11

AS soon as prayer was over, the oflcerS pulled
him off the stand and carried him to the lock-
up. There was talk of lynching him.
A Negro Man Kills Three Members of His
Family.
MsDIso}!, Ga, October 3.-[Special. THE
people of Morgan county are aroused by the
news Of terrible family tragedy which took
place sometime between Saturday night and
Sunday morning. About two o'clock ON Sun
day morning the CHATTER of horses feet were
heard by Marshal Beardon, the rider, exclaim-
ing i'll great excitement Us he rode in: 81 want
a doctorl ] want the sheriff Old man Dow
Locllet is dead Aunt Lucy and Mollie have
their threats cut, and are dying!"
The rider was negro, named Bill, who
worked on the plantation of Mr.. Anthony
Fannin, three miles from town. Upon tho
same plantation lived Dow Lockett, q venera-
bic old negro, and his wife, Lucy. They had
but one child with them, their daughter Mol
lie. Several years ago she accepted the love
of Alexander Morris, hand working upon an
adjoining plantation. For awhile all went
well, until jealousy entered the heart of Nor
ris, and after that there was but little peace.
lie whipped his wife frequently, and abused
her so that she was afraid of her life. Early
last week he went home one night and renewed
his cruel treatment. He beat her until she
fell exhausted in faint. Sometime during
the night her consciousness returned, when she
found her husband sleeping soundly beside her.
Stealthily she arose, and, slipping out of the
house, ran in desperation to the home of her
parents where she obtained refuge.
"About an hour ago." said tho rider, "I
heard terrible screams, which were preceded
by gunshot Running out [ saw n man at
Lockett's front door, pulling woman out,
kicking her, and cutting wildly at her with o
knife. The neighbors began TO gather when
the man ran off, and by the time the nature of
his work was known, he had disappeared en-
tirely. The woman in the yard was Mollie,
the wife of Aleck Morris. Her throat was cut
clean across. The people went in and found
that LoclIett was dead, while his wife was
almost dead, with her throat cut clean across,
Just like her daughters, outside. Then L
jumped on my horse and rode into town after
q doctor. "
A party was at once organized, consisting Of
the coroner, sheriff, and several others, who
reached the scene of the tragedy at daylight.
Hundreds Of excited negroes had gathered
at tho place, among whom the excite
ment was intense. All agreed that they
would lynch the murderer if they
could get him. The most iendish forms of
torture were proposed for Morris. The wound
ed wife said that her husband camo to tho
house, as he claimed, to effect reconciliation,
and wanted his wife to go back with him.
This she refused to do. He then said he
would stay all night. When bedtime came,
Lockett went to bed, sleeping on pallet ON
the floor while his wife, Lucy got into tho
bed, in the corner Of the room, and Mollie got
on q bed in the opposite side. What followed
can best be told in her own words, as told your
correspondent:
'Dad went to sleep about 10 o'clock, and
was soon snooZing. Nam talked awhile, and
she, too, fell asleep, and left Aleck sitting in
the door. lie wanted me to go back with him,
an sorter promised to go. was fraid Of him, AM
then wanted to get some money of mine he
had, and ] just talked kinder good to him.
BY and by fell asleep. When / walked up /
looked over to see nam STOPPING over dads
pallet trying to put out the fire. His cover
was ablaZe, and the room was full of smoke.
just then j saw ?uan spring on mann and
throw her TO the floor. She soTter cholfed, and
jumped out Of bed. 1t was Aleck. He left
nam and spraDg upon me, dragging me out
the door 10 the ground j saw knife in his
hand. lie struck at my throat, but L waTded
it off the next lick and no cut me again and
again. j fat tho keen edge of his knife.
drunk, and I don't know why nc wanted TO
kin us. Did not know dad was killed until
just before you came. The shot must have
walked me-"
In the room Dow Lockett laid on his side
with his eyes closed in sleep. IIe evidently
died without struggle, and never knew what
killed him. A double-barrel gun lay on tho
floor with its muZzle not six inches from his
head. 1t was his own gun, and the assassin had
to step over his sleeping form TO get it from
the rack.
Sheriff Hillsman at once sent for Toon Pow
ellis dogs. The animals took up the scent with
out trouble, running In the direction Of New
tOrkcOunty. When last heard from they were
hall way between Madison and Atlanta, while
the pursuing party Of whites and blacks was
being increased as IL went along by people anx-
ious to join in the lynehing Of tho triple muir
dercr.